Ontario's new environmental commissioner paid Lambton County a visit this week, accepting an invitation from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture to take an up-close look at farming.

And Dianne Saxe said she's pleased with what she saw.

“It was very exciting to hear how much awareness has increased here in the last couple of years on phosphorous issues,” said Saxe, a long-time Toronto-based environmental lawyer at the end of a three-day tour wherein she visited farms and farmers across the area, as well as agencies pushing for innovation in the sector like the Western University Research Park.

“And I was assured by at least two of the certified agronomists that farmers in this area do now have the tools that they need to significantly reduce phosphorous runoff,” Saxe said.

That's been a big issue in recent years, as runoff carrying fertilizer and animal waste has contributed to toxic algae in Lake Erie.

“They're spending a lot of money for their fertilizer; they want to keep it on the field,” said Saxe.

In many ways, it comes down to bolstering soil quality, she said, noting Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs also has a working group looking into what it's going to take to better soil health.

It's been on the decline in Ontario for the past 20 years, losing organic matter, carbon, and soil structure, leading to more erosion, she said.

“The rate of destruction has slowed, but it's still going the wrong way.”

Saxe's visit comes weeks after making comments about re-examining the tax-exempt status given to diesel fuel that’s used on the farm. Her comment raised some farmers' ire.

They and some mining, forestry, and rail diesel users can buy in bulk coloured diesel that’s exempt from Ontario's 14.3-cent fuel tax because the vehicles using it are tractors and others that don't really travel on roads, explained Ontario Federation of Agriculture president Don McCabe. The fuel is dyed reddish-purple so it's easy to spot if its not being used properly.

Some farmers were concerned Saxe was talking about eliminating what she characterizes as a subsidy.

But the question is not about taking away money from farmers, Saxe said.

“We in Ontario, you'll be glad to know, spend half a billion dollars every year subsidizing fossil fuels,” she said. “Guess how much goes to farmers?”

About $28 million, she said.

Or about 5.6 per cent.

“Is it really the best thing to do to provide the most support to the people that use the most diesel, or are there better ways of deciding how to distribute that money, what things to encourage?” she asked.

It's not a question that's been asked much before, Saxe said, noting the bigger discussion is: if the money is going to be reallocated, then how?

McCabe said healthy soil is of the utmost concern for farmers.

Refining how fertilizer is used, when and where, while using emerging technology, including satellites, can help make a difference, he said.

“Bottom line, healthy soil will lead to a healthy environment,” the Inwood-area farmer said. “It's the true root of sustainability, of profit, planet and people.”